The Nine Forms of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati and what they each give:
Śrīhariṃ paramānandamupadeṣṭāramīśvaram ।
Vyāpakaṃ sarvalokānāṃ kāraṇaṃ taṃ namāmyaham ॥
Bhavānīśaṅkarau vande śraddhāviśvāsarūpiṇau।
Yābhyāṃ vinā na paśyanti siddhāḥsvāntaḥsthamīśvaram ॥
Sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike ।
Śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo’stu te ॥
During Navarātri, we celebrate and worship the manifestation of the Absolute Reality (Brahma) as feminine and motherly (vātsalya) energy in the form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati. Whilst Mā has countless forms (svarūpas), in Navarātri, we focus on Her nine main ones, where each day represents a different form of Mā. Thus, Her nine forms—or names—are: Śailaputrī, Brahmacāriṇī, Caṃdraghaṃṭā, Kūṣmāṇḍā, Skaṃdamātā, Kātyāyanī, Kālarātri, Mahāgaurī and Siddhidātrī.
Prathamaṃ śailaputrī ca dvitīyaṃ brahmacāriṇī ।
Tṛtīyaṃ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam
Pañcamaṃ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṃ kātyāyanīti ca ।
Saptamaṃ kālarātrīti mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam
Navamaṃ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ।
Devīkavacam 3-5
And each of these unique forms of Mā gives us—Her children and seekers—different boons.
Mā Śailaputrī is the first form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. Mā Śailaputrī’s powers are infinite; on this first day, the Yogis are known to stabilise their minds in the “Mūlādhāra Cakra”, which marks the beginning of the spiritual practice that is followed for the rest of the nine days. Thus, Mā Śailaputrī endows Her devotees with the strength and mental power to serve Her for the rest of the nine days. Jai Mā Śailaputrī!
Mā Brahmacāriṇī is the second form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. Known to have performed severe penance to attain Lord Śiva as Her consort (and having attained Him), worship of Mā Brahmacāriṇī ensures an increase in the qualities of penance (tapasyā), sacrifice (tyāga) and detachment (vairāgya) in Her devotees, as well as their stability. Mā Brahmacāriṇī enables us to perform our duties righteously, and by Her Grace, we always attain power and victory in our life. Jai Mā Brahmacāriṇī!
Mā Caṃdraghaṃṭā is the third form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. Seated upon a lion fiercely, and ever ready for battle, Mā Caṃdraghaṃṭā blesses Her devotees with peace and calmness. The sound of the bell that reverberates around Her, ensures Her devotees’ protection by terrifying away the Asuras and Rākśasas (demonic forces). Her vehicle, which is a lion, is symbolic of courage and fearlessness, which She endows Her devotees with. By Mā Caṃdraghaṃṭā’s Grace, Her seekers are blessed with many divine experiences such as sometimes experiencing the scent of divine fragrances, and at others, heavenly sounds. And most importantly, by meditating upon Mā Caṃdraghaṃṭā, we shall ensure our welfare both, in the material world, and spiritual world! Jai Mā Caṃdraghaṃṭā!
Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā is the fourth form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā, whose one smile eliminated the darkness and created the universe, gets pleased very easily. Thus, even a little bit of devotion towards Her, guarantees a space in Her divine abode. Her worship rids Her devotees of all diseases and sorrows related to the material world; and he attains fame, strength, health, infinite happiness and an extended life span. Jai Mā Kūṣmāṇḍā!
Mā Skaṃdamātā is the fifth form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. The worship of Mā Skaṃdamātā grants Her devotees with the dual benefit of worshipping both, the Goddess Herself, and Her son—Lord Kārtikeya (also known as Skanda). She frees Her devotees’ mind of all bondages related to the material world, and ensures the fruition of all of their desires. Thus, Her devotees should turn their senses inwards and meditate upon Her, with a single-pointed focus. As She always has a halo of divinity surrounding Her, the constant energy radiating from there promotes the welfare of Her devotees. Jai Mā Skaṃdamātā!
Mā Kātyāyanī is the sixth form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. She vanquished the demon, Mahiṣāsura, and is also believed to be the presiding deity over the land of Vraja. Surrendering to Mā Kātyāyanī ensures Her devotees’ attainment of all four objectives (Puruṣārthas) of the human life—Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokṣa. All of his sorrows, diseases, fears and troubles are destroyed; and She rids Her devotees of all the sins from many births, making it easier to attain Her supreme abode! Jai Mā Kātyāyanī!
Mā Kālarātri is the seventh form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. Even though She looks fierce, She is only so towards those so entangled in worldly pleasures that they dismiss righteousness, justice, and moralities. However, for Her devotees, she is known to symbolise auspiciousness as she fulfills their desires. Therefore, she is also known as “Śubhakari”. Mā Kālarātri destroys all evils, including those living within us, and rids Her devotees of all types of fear. She is also known to destroy obstacles in Her devotee’s path due to faulty planetary positions. Jai Mā Kālarātri!
Mā Mahāgaurī is the eight form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. She embodies peace, and is known to reward Her devotees with infinite powers, as well as ridding them of all sins accumulated from their previous births. Her worship inspires us towards righteousness and virtuousness, destroying all evil tendencies. Surrendering to Mā Mahāgaurī removes all of our sorrows, troubles and poverty! Jai Mā Mahāgaurī!
Mā Siddhidātrī is the ninth and final form of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati who is worshipped in Her nine manifestations called Navadurgā. After having worshipped Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati for the previous eight days, and upon the completion of worshipping Mā Siddhidātri on the ninth day, Mā Siddhidātri blesses Her devotees with eighteen kinds of spiritual perfections (siddhis). The biggest siddhi for the spiritual aspirant (sādhaka) being, that he gets liberated from all his desires—except the desire to devote oneself to Mā. All devotees qualify to achieve success in every realm of life, whether in the material world world, or spiritual. However, having partook of Her worship for the previous eight days, Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati’s devotees cross the ocean of the material world, and attain Her Grace and are filled with the nectar of peace! Jai Mā Siddhidātri!
Thus, these are the nine manifestations of Mā Parāmbā Bhagavati that we worship during the journey of the nine days of Navarātri. Although each form of Mā is distinct and special in its own way, may we recognise and honour the feminine energy that protects us from all evil, and ultimately liberates us from saṃsāra (material world), by Her divine Grace.
Jai Mā!
Written by Shivani Suchak(Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania)
